Around Indies

Books Inc. Produces Banned Books Week Video

California’s Books Inc. is marking Banned Books Week (September 21 – 27) with a big, companywide celebration that includes storytimes, book clubs, and a new video written and “doodled” by Maggie Tokuda-Hall, Books Inc. children’s department director, marketing and events.

The YouTube video invites viewers to join Books Inc. in “cutting down the red tape” around banned and contested books and to “kick censorship to the curb,” starting September 21, 2014.

Bank Street Bookstore Finds New Location

New York City’s Bank Street Bookstore will be moving from its location on 112th Street and Broadway to 107th Street, when its lease expires this February. The new storefront, a former flower shop, is about one-third smaller, with 2,200 square feet of retail space; however the new rent is half of what the bookstore is paying now. Andy Laties, Bank Street’s manager, told the New York Times the store’s schedule of events and readings, including daily story time, weekend puppet shows, and celebrity appearances, will continue.

Book Culture to Open Third Store

Book Culture, which currently has two locations in New York City’s Morningside Heights, is planning to open a third store on Columbus Avenue and 82nd Street in November. The bookshop will be in the space once occupied by Endicott Booksellers, which closed 20 years ago. “The rents are definitely high in Manhattan, but where am I going to find a more condensed, more literary group of book lovers in the world?” Chris Doeblin, president of Book Culture, told the New York Times.

Women & Children First Honored With Street Naming

A portion of a street in Chicago’s Andersonville neighborhood is being renamed in honor of Women & Children First. The announcement was recently made by Chicago Alderman Harry Osterman to commemorate the 35-year-old business and its owners. As thanks to the store for its influence in the community, the street will be called Women and Children First Way. Linda Bubon and Ann Christopherson, who opened the bookstore to support women authors and gay/lesbian books, recently sold the store to former employees Sarah Hollenbeck and Lynn Mooney.

A ceremony for the street naming will take place on October 11 at 10:00 a.m. on the corner of North Clark Street and West Farragut Avenue according to the Chicago Phoenix. There will be a party afterwards inside the bookstore.